MC Pollution Dashboard: Delhi air still 'very poor', most other metros better off

Delhi remains most polluted metro

Delhi air continues to be “very poor” even as most other metros reported “moderate” AQI reading on November 28, the Central Pollution Control Board data shows.

The Air Quality Index (AQI) reading for the national capital remained above 300 for the 30th consecutive day, while it was around 100 across major metros.

Mumbai’s air quality improved at 133, better a reading of 170 a week before.

An AQI between 0 and 50 is considered good, 51 and 100 satisfactory, 101 and 200 moderate, 201 and 300 poor, 301 and 400 very poor, 401 and 450 severe, and above 450 severe-plus.

Kolkata’s air quality also improved to 124 on November 28 from 224 the previous day. Hyderabad’s AQI has remained around 100 for the past three days, improving from 120 a week ago. Bengaluru is the only city with satisfactory air quality, with AQI staying below 100 for three days.

The readings may have improved but lag international cities by a mile.

New York’s AQI at 19, as per IQAir data, was better than almost all Indian cities except Aizwal, which had a reading of 17.

London’s AQI was 66 on November 28, while Beijing’s AQI was 49.

Among the Indian cities, only nine had AQI below 50, while 19 percent of 48 had "satisfactory" air quality. Air was "moderate" in more than half of the Indian cities for for which data is available.

A fifth of Indian cities had poor or worse air quality. Of these, three cities — Bihar Sharif, Sirsa and Delhi — had an above 300 AQI reading.